I just do not understand why, considering all of the problems in the world, that there continues to be those who feel that they have to legislate the morality of others. Why not just let people live out their lives in peace? Gay marriage is just not a big deal. People need to get over it.

This is ridiculous. Some things should not be on the ballot and Prop 8 is one of them. People have no right to tell other people who to love or how legal that love is. It looks like the bigoted, conservative bastion wins another one. Well, at least Obama was elected I guess.

Please help me understand something… why is that when a state votes to allow gay marriage it becomes simply that…an allowance, almost like a verbal agreement with very little staying power. But when a state changes its mind later, at that point THEN the extra effort is made to write it into the state constitution and make it much harder for the initiative to be changed back.

I'm simply saying be equitable in how voting measures are treated. In both cases the people go out and vote their opinion but in only one instance is the process followed through to completion.

To be fair and equal, if a state will take the time to write a "NO" into the constitution, then they should have taken the time to write the "YES" in as well. A "yes" on gay marriage deserves the same difficulty to change by involving a change in the state constitution as a "no" does.

If we allowed the states to do this on other issues such as suffrage and segregation, we'd constantly have inequality in the nation every election year. Thankfully, the federal government stepped in and made sure this wouldn't be the case. But for now and most likely for years to come this is precisely how this issue will be treated… decided by whichever way the wind blows.

No matter how one feels on the issue, you should be able to see how this is skewed.

As much as I support the ammendment, I just couldn't bring myslef to vote along side the crazy religious right… I voted No

It is very humbling to participate in the celebration of Barack Obama's election, all the while knowing that my fellow citizens have voted to keep me unequal to them – a move that gives them no tangible benefit, yet changes my life immeasurably. If you are not gay and reading this, have you ever had to walk through your own neighborhood and see signs on neighbor's lawns showing not their attack on a tax bill that you support, but an attack on you, a human being? What if I posted a sign that read "Stop the marriage of people who have blue eyes!" Would I not be seen as the ridiculous bigot that I wa? How can it be that such an overwhelming demand for positive change still comes at the expense of anyone that we can still label as "other"?

If not today, then someday we will all have the right to marry whom we choose. I'm glad that the President Elect said that gay and straight spoke the answer.

Um,

Why on earth would anyone oppose gay marriage unless they were bigoted. How could two people getting married ever effect you.

Its all you straight people in loveless marriages. Your so miserable and you get no pleasure out of it and the only thing you have that you think makes you straight or normal is the fact that your married.

You think that if gay people can get married then it strips away your special status.

So cmon. Think about it. Does it really matter at all whether gay people can get married.

What century are we living in? PUHLEESE! It's none of our business who marries whom.

"African-Americans voted for the measure by a 69 percent to 31 percent
margin." You would think that African-Americans, given the history of bigotry in this country, would know better. I guess, in the end, bigotry DOES come in all colors. Sad, Sad, Sad

These Propositions are to confusing and know I mean know one adrressed them not even CNN. So when average people go vote the wording is so coonfusing you don't know if yes means yes for the proposition or no.

Its just too confusing period.

Can someone explain to me why people who aren't gay care at all about whether gay people get married, let alone care enough to take that right away from them? I'm at a loss.

ya this is a no brainer, God intended marriage to be between a man and a women. Nowhere does it say in the Bible that gay marriage is ok. It has always been intended for male and female, not same sex. Opposites attract, thats it.

This is to all those who voted against gay marriage in all the states: IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! What a concept?

God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. Our anatomy works together for a reason!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed it fails.
I live in upstate NY. I live alone. I'm not marrried. I'm gay. I'm miserabel and want to find someone special and get married. I'm also 54. I've lived most of my life in the closet. How can a state that voted a man as good as Obama into the office of President of These United States also vote for such descrimination? It makes me so sad.

People's private life has nothing to do with what is going on in this country

Still so far to go.

It's stunning to me that African-Americans would vote to eliminate a civil right that already exists. Would they also vote to ban inter-racial marriage? If so, then who could President-elect Barack Obama marry? He's half-white, so he couldn't marry a black woman, and since he's half-black, he couldn't marry a white woman. It's just stunning in its stupidity.

The percentage of African-American voters that voted FOR Prop 8 is astonishing to me. You would think that a group of people that have suffered from so much injustice in their lives would not want others to face the same fate. Just so you know, you have voted FOR prejudice and discrimination.

Why can't people just let other people be happy and get married if they want? I just don't get the push back on this issue.

The biggest threat to marriage, as I see it, is divorce. So why don't you ultra-religious folks try to ban that instead? Yeah, good luck with that one!

I will never understand why two people would be denied the opportunity to make a life long commitment to each other. I understand that the word "marriage"is a religious right and is not determined by any government. But Why not civil unions that carry the same rights as a marriage. With traditional marriages failing in high numbers, why deny people there happiness if they can find it?

Thank God our prayers have been anwered; we now see the begining of a new day!

It is a sad day when people who 'go to church' do not have the capacity to allow two people to care for each other, no matter who those two people are. Look in the mirror and ask youself if the Diety you worship asked you to enforce the universal Love they promised by exclusion, intimidation, and bigotry. The emergence of the 'bully political pulpit' in this country is appalling. Religious teachers who think religion is exclusively Republican are sorely mistaken and misguided.

the right to marry is NOT about "beliefs"….it's about RIGHTS. The right of every citizen having the same rules as everyone else. The right of EQUALITY. to deny any citizen the same rights as other citizens is discrimination.

HERE WE GO————IT BEGINS————

MORE LIBERAL DOWN FALL OF AMERICA

MORALS ARE LOST

I think it is BS! Nothing like hate and bigotry!

Should be equal right s for all not just hetro's

Wrap it up in your Bible all you want, it's still hate. It's sad that, in 2008, people are still so ignorant on this issue. Sadly, these folks think they'll get into Heaven by oppressing their fellow man this way. Additionally, these folks probably paint themselves as patriotic, yet this is an extremely anti-American thing to do. Pathetic.

AMERICA AS WE KNOW IT CHANGED LAST NIGHT,

AMERICANS WILL PAY THE PRICE FOR NOT BEING EDUCATED BY VOTING FOR OBAMA.

BUSINESSES WILL BE GOING UP ON THERE PRODUCT AND CORRUPTION IN THIS COUNTRY WILL GO WAY UP IN ORDER TO SURVIVE.

NOW THAT WE PUT A CROOKED MAN TO RUN THIS COUNTRY AMERICANS MUST LEARN FROM HIM AND BE LIKE HIM WHICH MEANS CORRUPTION WILL BE THE WAY OF LIFE FROM NOW ON

And my faith in America's progresss is irrevocably shattered.

No surprise here. The Northeast should cut away the less educated states and form our own country.

We were married October 11,2008. So for all of us who were fortunate to do so before yesterday, congratulations! For the religious hate groups….you should have hired a more competent lawyer to word you hate legislation. And speaking of "wording", you just lost your victory…..
You will not be allowed to "grandfather" your hate legislation. And even if you were allowed, you would then be forced in a civil suit to reimburse me the $6k I spent in the state for my ceremony expenses. Oh my, imagine what that $6k would have been able to do in support of the elder, the abused, the poor………
Run back to your church today, I'm sure you are missing the hate sermon.

i will never understand all the discrimination and hatred that still occurs in the US – to each his own – its everyones right to live the way they want – its not the churches decision or a governments decision when it creates zero harm to others – seperate church from state once and for all!!!

The fact that blacks were overwhelmingly for it is unbelieveable. A group of people who knows first hand the pain and shame of discrimination — to think they would turn around and do the same to another.

On the day we elected the first Black President, a day we seemed to have come so far, this shows we have a long way to go on the road of tolerance.

I don't understand how folks in CA can go to the poll to support change and unity – a vote for inclusion and yet so many voted to discriminate against people in loving relationships. It really smacks of I've got mine – so the heck with you. I think our new president has some tough work ahead of him if his own supporters can justify the same type of discrimination that many of them have faced in their own lives. Shame on them

I live in California, I am married and have a child on they way. I think the court will rule it unconstitutional and overturn the rule as they should. I remember in the 80's there was a county in Georgia, Forsyth, that wanted to be all white, the court ruled over the wishes of the majority in that case. Laws that discriminate and do not offer equal treatment to people are unconstitutional. This is a civil rights issue much like interratial marriage, a lot of people fought that as well. Barak proved last night hate dies and prejudice fades.

Are we so insecure in our own relationships that we must refuse to recognize someone elses?

I am in slight disbelief to read "African-Americans voted for the measure by a 69 percent to 31 percent margin." Since when did white voters become more progressive about equal rights then the minorities?

Gays will be Gays Straights will be Straights but I don't see the Gays reproducing any new support anytime soon.Tough!!!!!!!!!!

Stop bringing your religion into politics! I am strait, married, and I support gay marriage. As long as two people love each other, who are we to judge? The divorce rate is close to 70% right now. So we are going to let that 70% tell us what love should or should not be? So pathetic.

Come on California. Vote for Prop 8.

I just don't understand how people think it affects their lives so much if two gay people get married. I personally don't see any reason for anyone to get married, but I would never take someones rights away because of who they are.

Seems it's won, 350,000 votes is a pretty good lead.

Why did you phrase it in the negative-voters banned gay marriage? Why not say Voters decided to recognize marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

When the nation voted for a African American president, it broke the race barrier. When we are rejoicing "Yes we can" and patting our backs on the historic win of Obama, we refuse to acknowledge that hate bacame law in 4 states. CA, FL, AR, AK banning same sex marriage and banning gay adoption and fostering.

Are we sending mixed signals to the world? When do we realize gay rights are basic rights and not special rights? When do we realize majority voiting on minority is fundamentally wrong. We have slavery and the Civil war to remind us of that tragedy again and again.

Here again, the gay community is waiting with a begging bowl for its basic human rights.

Shame on anyone who voted banning gay marriages. Hope you feel proud of yourself for helping to write hate in the state law books. You have denied human rights for the current and future generations. You will be laughed at in the future for your bigotry.

If a mormon can have 8 wives and I am supposed to look the other way, why can't I marry the person I love? Hate, lies, discrimination, and homophobia seem to be the new family values of the mormon and catholic church. I thought the bible taught love and tolerance. I hope you teach your children to discriminate well, because this fight isn't over yet.

Ironic that black voters, who fought so long and so hard to be accepted and to have the same rights as whites, are now the discriminators voting 69% for Prop. 8. And on the very night the first black president is overwhlemingly elected.

Gay marriage should not be allowed any where in the world, they should have the same rights as any individual but marriage is a tradition from the onset was between a man and a woman. Allowing same sex to do likewise will not make marriage a tradition anymore but rather a trend.A BIG NO TO LBGHT,(lesbians,bi-xuals,gays, homosxuals and Transvestites. It will never become a law, no disrespect to gay folks.
PEACE!!!!!

Wow. I am glad that CNN doesn't try to hide their bias. Last night when a NO for Prop. 8 was ahead, CNN was ready to call it. Now that YES is ahead. Its too close to call. Sorry CNN, I know you are disappointed that a PERVERSION of Satan and a DISGRACE was defeated.

For crying out loud, give people the freedom to live their love in peace. Why are we so afraid?

One man and one woman, Biblical marriage is what they voted for. God hates divorce and according to the Bible there are grounds for divorce but you can not remarry unless your spouse dies. Until death do you part, if you want to be married. Lets make remarrying of divorced people illegal too and see how they like it.

At 5:51 a.m. with 92.3% of votes recorded, the vote remains (as it has all night) 52% in favor of this amendment. What's unclear about that. California voters have spoken (again) and the majority want to preserve the traditional definition of marriage as one man and one woman. I applaud them for not allowing that definition to be decided by special interests and a small panel of judges. I also applaud Florida and Arizona (my home) for also stepping up and protecting their state's definition of marriage in a manner than cannot be overturned by their State Supreme Court, but rather will govern that court's decision. It is a victory for TRUE conservatives who believe these decision are left to the states to decide.

I find it amazing that African-Americans, who have a history of being discriminated against in this country, would support a measure to add discrimination against another group into a state consitution.

It makes me so sad that people are so scared of two same-sex persons sharing a life together.

As a young gay man it makes me feel like less of a person and life is difficult enough.

This is an example of unwanted government intrusion in our private lives. Strange that it is supported by Conservatives.

My gay niece got married to her girl friend, those in my family who could attend were there, and none of the man-woman marriages in our family have collapsed as a result.

This Proposition is the imposition of religious values on people who don't share those values.

Not surprised. The results show the natural and slow decline of bigotry and intolerance that simply takes time to manifest itself into laws. The trends tell the real story and eventual gay equality and that is the great sign.

While the current popular vote power belongs to the religious mob and those brainwashed by fright, it is clear that group too will simply follow the dinosaurs over time.

It's unbelievable that this is still an issue. The only threat to marriage is DIVORCE, not gay marriage!

This is a sad day for California, despite many pro-8 people who would applaud this decision.

We progressed as a nation, and then we fell as a state.

This is so very sad. The same day we move beyond our racial past and elect a black man president, is also the same day a few states decided to endorse bigotry and make prejudice against gay people an official law.

Seriously, to anyone who is married who is against gay marriage, I have one question: How does Ellen marrying her girlfriend affect YOUR relationship with your spouse in ANY way? How does Ellen's gay marriage make your own any less meaningful?

What if you walked into a voting booth and the ballot read "Should the state ban marriage between Blacks? or Jews? or Asians? or Latinos? or the disabled? or citzens over 65 years of age?" You would be outraged wouldn't you? But insert the word "gay" into that sentence and there's no problem whatsover. When will you connect the dots? Discrimination is discrimination is discrimination. It's not okay if you target the right group because YOU are in someone else's "right group."

The vote in Florida was also a constitional admendment making marriage as only between one man and one woman, just like the vote in AZ. In Florida it takes a 60% yes vote to amend, the vote was unfortunatly 62% yes.

It seems to be the word marriage. Why couldn't a same sex wedding end with a Union and a wedding between a man and woman be called a Marriage. Both would be treated as the same by the State and Federal governments. Just a thought!!

What this tells me is that churches preached the politics of hate from their pulpits. When will they lose their tax-exempt status?

Why are they using religion as a hateful weapon?

I totally agree. u have the right to be whatever u want to be. That doesnt mean it has to be made a rule all around America!!!!! SO BE WHAT U WANT AND BE WITH WHOM U WANT. JUST DONT TRY AND MAKE EVERYONE AGREE ON IT TOO.

On a day when America is embracing change and its so-called 'inclusive future' for all African Americans, it seems that 'anything' is possible… as long as you're not gay and want to get married.
If the door has been finally closed on 'race' then another one remains wedged open on equality for gay people.
I am disappointed that the African-American community in California are both empowering themselves and limiting the rights of other minorities in the same election day.
The day I truly believe that anything is possible is the day America elects a gay president.

I bet it will be in the Supreme Court soon. Could be another Roe Vs. Wade…
sooner or later, too bad not now, but eventually, when all the old geezers die, it will be the law that all people have the same rights. Hang in there, my gay friends, it will happen!

It saddens me that in an environment where predjudice has not determined our next president, my marriage to my long-term partner can be invalidated.

I saddens me that such rights will be denied to future same-sex couples by constitutional amendment.

Prejudice lives.

This is unreal how come people are going to keep ignoring the right of thousands of gay people??? Gays are not going to stop been gay just because they are not recognized.

Hooray for bigots!

To the LGBT community, don't spend your money in California! Take it where you are welcome.

Go0d!! To those who want to be anything other than regular supporters of "man & women". Fine!! but pls dont try to have it made acceptable to the public eye, & push down everyones throat!!!!!!!!

I am proud of this historic moment in time, but disappointed that with all the barriers being broken so many states voted on legalized discrimination.

I defy anyone out there to give a good, VALID reason that does not rely on their religious views as to why gay marriage is wrong and should be banned.

Doesn't anybody remember that little thing called 'Separation of Church and State?"

Here's a nice little bit of information to keep in mind when mulling this issue over: Marriage is NOT a Christian institution. It has been around much, much longer than Christianity. Therefore, why should the nation be forced to follow Christian ideology in their own lives, ESPECIALLY if they are not Christian themselves? (I think a lot of Americans are in denial as to how many non-Christians live in this country) That is the equivilent of Muslim Americans forcing every woman in the US to wear a burka, or Hindu Americans banning the sale and comsumption of beef products in the US.

Anyone else see how rediculous this is?

Marriage is the public and legal declaration of two people that they love each other and commit to one another for the rest of their lives. To limit the scope of marriage to simply Man+Woman=Marriage is simply narrow-minded bigoted thinking. Period.

I believe civil marriage – marriage regulated by the State – should be banned completely in the United States. Marriage is a matter of way of life and belief, and should be left to the religious and philosophical spheres.

Test all children for parentage at birth (eliminate the "marriage presumption") and eliminate all governmental monetary ties to marriage. Have social security cover minor children of decedents, and allow people to designate one and only one adult to receive survivor's benefits based on a decedent's work record.

Allow adults living together at one address to either file one tax return for all residents or else to file all singly (single filing required for persons at government institutions such as prison halfway houses.)

Of course, this would put a lot of family lawyers out of work, not to mention loophole accountants…

if people are so opposed to gay marriage because the word marriage means the legally bonding of a man and a woman why not just come up with another word that involves legal bonding of a same sex couple? A different word can't have to much protest and will just reveal those who are against same sex couples in general…i think people are way too sensitive to people who they don't even know. why do we have the right to say nope you can't have a ceremony just because you're both guys or both girls. people need to get overthemselves

How very sad. I voted in the first African-American President, but African-Americans turn out in droves to deny me the right to marry.

It shows how far African-Americans have come, but how far they still have to go. I hope someday Dr. King's dream will be realized for me too.

Our country was built on christian belief that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Anything other than that is a sin. This is the time to live and fight the good fight that we are not to conform to this world and to be victorious in being world overcomers in our fatih and our country under the Constitution that our foundation is built on Christian principles. Praise be to God and not to those who want to change our country's fabric. We are world overcomers in Christ!

Yet another signal that it is still okay to hate gay people in America. What a nation of hillbillys.

I hope the activist judges in some of the liberal districts dont overturn the will of the people again. The people have spoken!!!

Since human physiology clearly points to men and women having sexual relations with one another, it's ironic to me that those who most strongly support gay mariage also tend to most strongly support evolutionary theory. The intent of evolution points to heterosexual relationships, not homosexual, yet that doesn't seem to matter. Rather inconsistent and paradoxical, to me.

The intolerance of this country is hypocritical and simply disgusting..

I voted for Obama and I just Hope that he can change this country and make change oh this ban on gay marriages. Let us gay be free… Please… I still have hope and now more with Obama in Power…

How sad and pathetic on a historic day today for African Americans, they would support discrimination written into the CA Constitution. Almost makes me regret my vote for Obama.

The gay and lesbian community got what they deserved! They supported a candidate and his supporters who only believes that equal rights applies to africian americans.

Until the gay and lesbian community demands candidates that don't just do lip service to our community, we get our just desserts!

Bittersweet election – to think we could come so far yet fall short on basic human rights. Since when does the religious right control the political arena. What ever happened to the separation of church and state. Maybe we need a proposition to make it clear that there is to be a division and neither the twine shall meet. A vote to ban the right of marriage for same sex couples is unchristian.

so i will not be able to marry in florida, huh?

Let's just call that what it really is, taking away rights based on sexual orientation.

Simply not something that should be dicided in an election. This is legal bias against homosexuals. We should be encouraging monogamous relationships in everyone!

Too bad it simply means the U.S. is not yet ready to come in to the 21st century and create all people equal with equal rights. Maybe in another 100 years.

So sad. What right do people think they have to deny other people rights?

I wasn't surprised that a majority of Florida voted Yes on 2 (The same amendment as California's but I was surprised at the near shut-out. I've listened to my friend who just wants to legally enjoy the same rights as any married couple. I've listened to my mother who said the very idea "demeans" her own marriage (even though she could never explain why).

I suppose in a way, Florida was one step forward last night, two steps back.